IL SB1912

Expands the Underserved Health Care Provider Workforce Act to include optometry students studying at Illinois institutions as eligible for scholarships, allowing them to fulfill service obligations by practicing full-time in designated shortage areas

Adds optometrists and anesthesiologists to the list of healthcare providers who can satisfy scholarship service requirements by practicing in underserved areas

Broadens the definition of "medical facility" to include rural health centers, federally qualified health centers, federally qualified health center look-alikes, and optometric offices

Expands the definition of "primary care physician" to include obstetricians and gynecologists

Changes repayment penalties to apply to both scholarship and loan repayment recipients who fail to fulfill service obligations, with repayment funds deposited back into the originating fund rather than exclusively the Community Health Center Care Fund

Effective date: January 1, 2026